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Show Tin: I'KKSS AM THE PUBLIC. The newspaper press of the state of New York bare been demanding the repeal re-peal uf that clause of the electrical execution exe-cution law which forbids the publication publica-tion of the details of lOob. executions and a resolution has been introduced in the rnate bearing on that question. Tho commiMiontrs insist th.-u the rc-gtrictlon rc-gtrictlon shall he rntninod, anil tho.v do-fend do-fend their position liv ussniling tho motives mo-tives of tho press. "The object of the jiewspapi is.' hays the report, 'is lo obtain ob-tain material for sensational articles in order to iucrcace its sales and enlarge its profits; and when it is remembered thai ':! new -papri's are extensively read by the criminal classes, who glory in the description of the BOUVM shown by their colleagues nadorgOing the sen tcnee of death, and whose minds arc repeatedly stimulated to fresh acts of violence by 'he reading of such disgusting dis-gusting .letaiis-, the need of keepiug these details out of the public prints is more apparent." It is the object of ( he legitimate newspaper news-paper to gather all the facts, sensational sensation-al cr otherwise, which make up the tlayV doinffs, and of which tho public demand a fair anil reliable aocoun: . It need not lie questioned that a small minority of the press do seek profit by presenting to their patrons unsavory and disgusting dishes, but this does not alter the fact that the respectable journals jour-nals of the country give the news in the least objectionable form and with a proper regard for the public morals. If the New York commission has hit upon tho true principle in dealing with the press, then both laws and constitutions constitu-tions will have to be recast. The same argument which is here advanced in support of the legal right to mii.le the press at executions of the death penally, might lie urged at every stage in the history of crime and its punishment. Why Should the details de-tails of a murder bo permitted to be published? Why the circumstances of the arrest, the testimony before the inquest, the proceedings of the trial, 11 i-u i, uud the .seoteiiejiy ..Thorn, .r nthor ' " grutU's of crime, bolides murder the accounts ac-counts of which are "extensively road by tho criminal classes," but this does not afford ;'t sullieitmt or reasonable argument why they should Dot be read by the non-orimioal classes. Reduced to its logical conclusion, the doctrine of the commission would demand the placing Of the press under a censorship cen-sorship to determine what was proper ami what was improper for publication. publica-tion. This would he a step backward toward to-ward semi-bai'lmrisiu which no state would tolerate. The press is one of the great moral and intellectual bulwarks of civilized society, and it hits been left free to publish everything not in tlero gation of private rights. Freedom of the press is one of our boasted rights, and it is not only essential to the material mater-ial interests and intellectual demands of the age. but it is the great conservator conserva-tor and lialance-whoel of organized society, so-ciety, it has a broad charter and high dmies, bul in the performance of its functions it is held responsible for tho abuse of its privileges both by the law and by public opinion. The truth is the press eannot be muzzled, and there is, uo uac to attempt it. |